Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry - Roll of Honour of Officers of the DCLI Who Died in the Great War Whilst Serving With 7th Battalion DCLI

No	Date Died	Surname	Forenames	Rank	Decs	Age	Cause	Country	Location/Sector	Cemetery/Memorial	Notes
1915
1	26th January	MARRIOTT	John Francis Laycock	2Lt	-	25	DOI	UK	Hospital at Aldershot	Aldershot Military Cemetery (AH.322)	(1)
1916
2	29th February	LAILEY	Eric Lillywhite	2Lt	-	21	KIA	Belgium	Yser Canal, near Boesinghe	Bard Cottage Cemetery (I.F.14)	(p153)
3	9th March	LEWIN	Kenneth Robert	Lt	-	26	KIA	Belgium	Yser Canal, near Boesinghe	Bard Cottage Cemetery (I.F.12)	(p153)
4	29th March	NICHOLAS	Walter Wynne	2Lt	-	20	KIA	Belgium	Yser Canal, near Boesinghe	Bard Cottage Cemetery (I.F.11)	(p153)
5	11th April	THOMAS	Arthur Lanham	2Lt	-	21	KIA	Belgium	Yser Canal, near Boesinghe	Bard Cottage Cemetery (I.F.2)	(p154)
6	5th June	LONSDALE	Thomas Wilkes	Capt	MC	22	DOW	France	CCS at St Omer	Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery (II.C.2)	(p155) (2)
7	6th June	WILLIAMS	Guy Grenfell	2Lt	-	19	KIA	Belgium	Vlamertinghe, west of Ypres	Brandhoek Military Cemetery (II.E.4)	(p155)
8	6th July	EDWARDS	John Rathbone	2Lt	MiD	36	KIA	Belgium	Potijze Wood, north east of Ypres	Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery (II.C.20)	(p171)
9	16th July	HAMLYN	Alfred Ernest	2Lt	-	29	KIA	Belgium	""Muddy Lane", east of Ypres	Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery (IX.A.4)	(p171)
10	29th July	BRETT	Hugh Corthorn	Capt	-	24	KIA	France	Mailly Maillet, Somme	Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery (D.13)	(p171)
11	29th July	ROOKE	William Albert	2Lt	-	25	KIA	France	Mailly Maillet, Somme	Mailly-Maillet Communal Cemetery (D.14)	(p171)
12	24th August	FRANCIS	Alan Buller	2Lt	-	20	KIA	France	"Brompton Road", west of Guillemont	London Cemetery, Longueval (VII.B.9)	(p173) (3)
13	24th August	MARTIN	Walter Percival	2Lt	-	?	KIA	France	West of Guillemont, Somme	Bernafay Wood British Cemetery (O.55)	(p172) (4)
14	24th August	OUDIN	Lucien Eugene	Capt	MC	25	DOW	France	CCS at Sailly-le-Sec	Dive Copse British Cemetery (II.G.14)	(p172) (5)
15	24th August	SOWELL	Arthur Donald	Lt	-	21	KIA	France	West of Guillemont, Somme	Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt (Sp Mem A.9)	(p172) (6)
16	24th August	WARD	George Matthew	2Lt	-	22	KIA	France	West of Guillemont, Somme	Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt (Sp Mem A.9)	(p172) (7)
17	25th August	DAVIES	Ernest Frank	2Lt	-	24	KIA	France	"Brompton Road", west of Guillemont	Bernafay Wood British Cemetery (II.H.30)	(p173) (8)
18	2nd September	MILWARD	Etienne Geoffrey	Capt	-	20	DOW	France	21st CCS at La Neuville, Somme	La Neuville British Cemetery (II.B.35)	(p174) (9)
19	16th September	BARNES	Herbert George	2Lt	-	23	KIA	France	Near Lesboeufs, Somme	Thiepval Memorial (Pier/Face 6B)	(p184)
20	16th September	CHILWELL	Eric Robert	2Lt	-	26	KIA	France	Near Lesboeufs, Somme	Thiepval Memorial (Pier/Face 6B)	(p185)
21	16th September	FEILD	John Forbes	2Lt	-	24	KIA	France	Near Lesboeufs, Somme	Thiepval Memorial (Pier/Face 6B)	(p184)
22	16th September	OLIVIER	Jasper George	2Lt	-	20	KIA	France	Near Lesboeufs, Somme	Thiepval Memorial (Pier/Face 6B)	(p184)
23	1st October	COOMBE	William John	2Lt	-	35	KIA	France	Near Gueudecourt, Somme	Thiepval Memorial (Pier/Face 6B)	(p190)
24	1st October	DRYERRE	Robert Henry	2Lt	-	23	KIA	France	Near Gueudecourt, Somme	Thiepval Memorial (Pier/Face 6B)	(p190)
1917
25	24th February	FOLLIS	Thomas	2Lt	-	23	DOW	France	CCS at Meaulte	Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte (III.A.8)	(10)
26	28th March	PUCKRIDGE	Christopher Francis Hewitt	Capt	-	22	KIA	France	Ruyaulcourt, Canal du Nord	London Cemetery Extn, Longueval (10.J.5)	(p244) (11)
27	16th August	EVANS	Henry Robert Noel	Capt	-	20	KIA	Belgium	East of Steenbeeke, Langemarck	Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 80/82)	(p270)
28	16th August	NEW	Brian Brooke	2Lt	-	26	KIA	Belgium	East of Steenbeeke, Langemarck	Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 80/82)	(p269)
29	30th November	MACMILLAN	James Bonthron	Major	DSO, MiD	32	KIA	France	Near Masnieres, south west of Cambrai	Cambrai Memorial (Panel 6)	(p307)
30	30th November	RAE	James Edmond Pringle	Major	-	25	KIA	France	Near Masnieres, south west of Cambrai	Cambrai Memorial (Panel 6)	(p307)
31	30th November	RICHARDS	William Beresford	Lt	-	24	KIA	France	Near Masnieres, south west of Cambrai	Cambrai Memorial (Panel 6)	(p307)
32	1st December	WOOLNOUGH	Arthur Stanley	2Lt	-	27	POW	France	In German Hands near Caudry	Caudry British Cemetery (IV.C.24)	(p307) (12)
1918
33	5th January	BENFORD	Charles George	2Lt	-	24	A	Belgium	"Manor Farm", south east of Ypres	Railway Dugouts Burial ground (VII.V.4)	(p356) (13)
34	24th March	EARY	Frederick Charles	Capt	MC	28	KIA	France	Near Villeselve, south east of Ham	Pozieres Memorial (Panel 45)	(p373)
35	24th March	EDWARDS	Albert Campbell	2Lt	-	24	KIA	France	Near Villeselve, south east of Ham	Pozieres Memorial (Panel 45)	(p373)
36	24th March	McGREGOR	Charles	2Lt	-	29	KIA	France	Near Villeselve, south east of Ham	Pozieres Memorial (Panel 45)	(p373)
37	24th March	SLEE	John Balhatchet	Lt	-	28	KIA	France	Near Villeselve, south east of Ham	Pozieres Memorial (Panel 45)	(p373)
38	24th March	WATSON	Frederick John	2Lt	-	26	KIA	France	Near Villeselve, south east of Ham	Pozieres Memorial (Panel 45)	(p373)
39	25th March	JACKSON	Theophilus Rudolph	Capt	MC	41	DOW	France	53rd CCS near Roye	Roye New British Cemetery (Sp Mem A5)	(p375) (14)
40	22nd May	PEARSON	Harold	2Lt	-	20	KIA	France	South west of Lens	Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery (XV.Q.38)	(p394)
41	26th June	KING	William	2Lt	-	27	POW	Germany	POW Camp in Germany	Berlin South-Western Cemetery (XIX.C.1)	(15)
42	28th June	SMITH	James Bowman	2Lt	-	21	KIA	France	Near Bois de Riaumont, east of Lievin,	Arras Memorial (Bay 6)	(p395)
43	22nd October	ROSLING	Charles Holbrook	Capt	-	36	DOW	France	CCS at Manacourt	Rocquigny-Equancourt Road Cemetery (XIV.A.27)	(p420) (16)
Notes: (The numbers marked with a "p" in the Notes column refers to the page in "The History of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry", by Everard Wyrall, where the death of the officer, or the action he was involved in, is mentioned). 1. MARRIOTT died of ? 2. LONSDALE was wounded by a sniper at Potijze Wood on 24th May 1916. 3. FRANCIS was originally buried in a battlefield grave near Bernafay Wood, Somme and was re-interred in the London Cemetery, Longueval, on 7th April 1936. 4. MARTIN was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the north west of Bernafay Wood, Somme and was re-interred in the Bernafay Wood British Cemetery in December 1919. 5. OUDIN was wounded near Guillemont, Somme on 23rd August 1916. 6. SOWELL is believed to be buried in this cemetery. 7. WARD was originally buried in a battlefield grave at the Briqueterie, south west of Guillemont, and reburied in Peronne Road Cemetery in October 1919. 8. DAVIES was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the east of Bernafay Wood, Somme and was re-interred in the Bernafay Wood British Cemetery in December 1919. He may well have been killed on 24th August 1916. 9. MILWARD was wounded near Guillemont, Somme on 31st August 1916. 10. FOLLIS was wounded south west of Le Transloy, Somme on 18th February 1917. 11. PUCKRIDGE was originally buried in Ytres Communal Cemetery and was reburied in London Cemetery Extension, Longueval on 7th August 1952. 12. WOOLNOUGH was reported as "missing, believed killed" on 30th November 1917. He was wounded and taken by the Germans and died of his wounds the next day. He was originally buried in Caudry German Cemetery and re-buried in Caudry British Cemetery in 1924. 13. BENFORD was accidentally killed. 14. JACKSON was originally buried in Roye Old British Cemetery, south of Roye. On exhumation of the grave in September 1920, no body was found and Capt Jackson is commemorated on a Special Memorial in Roye New British Cemetery. 15. KING was taken POW on ? and interred in ? POW Camp. Buried at Berlin in 1924/1925. 16. ROSLING was wounded near Fresnoy on 3rd October 1918.

Those Officers of Other Regiments Who Died in the Great War

Whilst Serving With 7th (Service) Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry

Date Died

Surname

Forenames

Rank

Decs

Cause

Age

Country

Location/Sector

Cemetery/Memorial

Notes

29th March 1918

STORR

Leycester Penrhyn

Major

DSO

KIA

France

Demuin, south of Villers-Bretonneux

Pozieres Memorial (Panel 21/23)

(p379) (1)

Notes: (The numbers marked with a "p" in the Notes column refers to the page in "The History of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry", by Everard Wyrall, where the death of the officer, or the action he was involved in, is mentioned or indicated..

1. STORR was detached from The King's (Liverpool Regiment).

Battalion History

The Battalion was formed at Bodmin on 22nd September 1914 as part of "K2". Full title: 7th (Service) Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. The Battalion assembled at Woking and soon reached its established strength and commenced training for active service. The unit was assigned to 61st Infantry Brigade, 20th (Light) Division. The Battalion was moved to Pirbright in November 1914, and then moved to the Witley area in February 1915. To complete combat training the Battalion was moved to Amesbury in March 1915. On 24th July 1915 the main party of the Battalion entrained at Amesbury for Folkestone embarking for Boulogne on 25th July 1915. The Battalion then marched to Hazebrouck, arriving there on 28th July and the next day marched to Steent-Je, near Bailleul where it was put work building rifle ranges. On 10th August the Battalion was attached to 82nd Brigade, 27th Division, near Armentieres for instruction in trench warfare before returning to Steent-Je on 16th August for labouring and construction duties. The unit was then attached to 81st Brigade, 27th Division, at La Rolanderie on 22nd August for engineering and construction work before returning to 61st Brigade at Estaires on 28th August providing working parties for labouring duties for work at defensive posts around the Laventie area. On 5th September 1915 the Battalion first took over front line trenches in the Brigade area around the area of Petillon, near Fleur Baix.

The Battalion remained with 61st Brigade, 20th (Light) Division, for the duration of the was fighting at the Battle of the Somme 1916, Third Ypres (Passchendaele), Cambrai, Somme 1918 and the Final Advance in Picardy. At the Armistice the Battalion was in the Feignies area, north west of Maubeuge close to the Belgian border. On 23rd November the Battalion was ordered to move westward to the Vendegies area, south of Valenciennes arriving there on 25th November. On 27th November the Battalion marched to Cauroir, east of Cambrai, and then marched to Cambrai on 30th November. The first to be demobilised were coal miners, who were sent home on 1st December when the Battalion was transported to a camp at Vauchelles-les-Authie, north east of Amiens. The Battalion remained here until 21st March 1919 working on camp improvements, trench filling, and providing education classes. Drafts of coal miners were demobilised during this time and the first general demobilisation occurred on 5th January 1919 when 1 officer and 15 men were selected and sent home. Demobilisation speeded up during February and March 1919 and at the end of March the Battalion's strength was 19 officers and 152 men. On 22nd March 1919 the Battalion was moved to billets at Pas-en-Artois, east of Doullens, where demobilisation continued. On 30th April the Battalion strength was 12 officers and 55 men and by 31st May 1919 the strength was recorded as 9 officers and 38 men. The Battalion was disbanded on 28th June 1919.

Full details of the Battalion's actions and movements throughout the Great War can be viewed in the Battalion War Diary, which can be seen at the National Archives in Catalogue WO 95/2126/1.

Fatal casualties of DCLI personnel of the 7th Battalion : Officers 43 - men 615.

Regimental History

The DCLI was formed on 1 July 1881 as part of the Childers Reforms which saw the amalgamation of the 32nd (Cornwall Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot and the 46th (South Devonshire) Regiment of Foot. These two units became respectively the Regular 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Regiment, with the Regimental Depot based at Victoria Barracks, Bodmin.

The 1881 reforms also redesignated the Militia and Rifle Volunteer Corps (RVC) units within the Regimental District of Cornwall as Battalions of the DCLI - the Royal Cornwall Rangers forming the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, the 1st Cornwall Battalion RVC forming the 1st Volunteer Battalion and the 2nd Cornwall Battalion RVC forming the 2nd Volunteer Battalion.

In 1908, as part of the Haldane Reforms, the Militia Battalion was reorganised and restructured forming the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion and the two Volunteer Battalions formed the 4th Battalion and 5th Battalion of the Regimental Territorial Force (TF). After the Declaration of War on 4th August 1914 and at various stages up to 1st June 1918, the order of battle of the DCLI was made up of 16 Regular, Territorial Force, Service, Labour and Reserve Battalions. The two Volunteer Battalions, raised in 1916 for Local Home and Coastal Defence duties, were later transferred to the Royal Defence Corps.

A detailed history of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry can be viewed here.

Analysis of 7th Battalion DCLI Officer Casualties

Year	Belgium	France	Germany	UK	Total
1915				1	1
1916	7	16			23
1917	2	6			8
1918	1	9	1		11
TOTALS	10	31	1	1	43

Page last updated: 5th January 2025

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